Circular Strategies for Hospitals from edX

Reducing medical waste is a worldwide challenge that calls for smarter solutions that can make healthcare more sustainable.

This course helps hospital staff, management, users and buyers of medical products and decision-makers make the transition to a circular economy and therefore contribute to reducing waste streams and costs.

This course uses an interdisciplinary approach to create sustainable solutions in hospitals. It includes business cases with visual examples of circular economy strategies presented by experts from the field. These strategies are also a tool to help relieve the supply chain as resources are under increasing pressure.

After taking this course you will master the concept of the circular economy from a hospital perspective. You will learn to apply circular strategies and how to set-up a green team to integrate circular processes in your organization. Finally, you will learn how to make recommendations for reducing waste streams.

This course is part of the program Circular Strategies for Sustainable Healthcare developed by TU Delft’s MedTech experts in close collaboration with industry representatives and renowned institutes. These courses provide not only academic insights but also practical tools and examples which can be implemented in any healthcare organization, and can help you propose and develop your own circular solutions and programs.

Free e-book In addition to 24/7 online access to video lectures and other course material, you will receive an electronic copy of the brand-new book 'Creating a Circular Healthcare Economy'. This book will further equip you to drive sustainable change and embrace circularity in the healthcare sector.

Accredited Course

This course is accredited by the Dutch Association for Hospital Instrumentation Technicians (VZI). Learners who successfully complete the course and obtain a certificate can request Professional Development Points.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Define the basics of circular economy from a hospital perspective
Translate the circular approaches of the butterfly diagram to a hospital or healthcare environment
Recognize the purpose of a green team and outline its requirements

Define urban mining and identify urban mining strategies in the hospital
Analyze waste streams in the hospital and identify how these can be reduced or eliminated
Formulate a set of recommendations to decrease hospital waste

Define the basics of circular economy from a hospital perspective
Translate the circular approaches of the butterfly diagram to a hospital or healthcare environment
Recognize the purpose of a green team and outline its requirements
Define urban mining and identify urban mining strategies in the hospital
Analyze waste streams in the hospital and identify how these can be reduced or eliminated
Formulate a set of recommendations to decrease hospital waste

Syllabus

The transfer from linear to circular

The need to transfer to circular healthcare economy

Explanation of the Butterfly Diagram as a ‘system’ and its use as a model for waste reduction

The EU Climate Law and Green Deal

Trend towards reducing medical waste.

Visualizing all Butterfly Diagram approaches as strategies in a hospital.

Applying the circular strategies of Maintenance, Reuse, Repair, Remanufacturing, Recycling

Transforming hospitals’ use of circular products and processes

Product-life-extending programs

Circular strategies in hospitals

Designing a green team

Integrating circular processes in an organization

Critical success factors and how to overcome resistance in setting-up a team

How to create a support base in the organization

The definition of urban mining and its relevance

How to urban mine in a hospital

Risks of contamination

Differences between the different wastes streams: household, contaminated and non-contaminated waste streams

Materials and their properties

Mono versus mixed waste streams.

Waste reduction strategies

Waste reduction programs

Medical devices with extended service-life and longer durability

Advantages of repair, preventive maintenance, refurbishment in the context of reducing waste streams

How to separate waste streams.

Writing a waste reduction proposal

Evaluating a circular proposal

Creating a sustainable advice network.

Week 1: Basics of the circular healthcare economy, from a hospital perspectiveIn this week you will learn the basics of the circular healthcare economy, from a hospital perspective. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 2: Applying circular strategies in a hospital environmentIn this week you will learn to apply circular approaches. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 3: Setting-up a green teamIn this week you will learn how to set-up a green team. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 4: Urban MiningIn this week you will learn to define urban mining and to identify urban mining strategies in the hospital. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 5: How to reduce waste streamsIn this week you will learn how to analyze waste streams in the hospital and identify how these can be reduced or eliminated. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 6: Making recommendations to reduce waste in a hospitalIn this week you will learn how to formulate a set of recommendations to decrease hospital waste. Topics which we will cover this week are:

Week 7: Summary of the courseIn this week we will wrap-up and provide main takeaways as well as additional resources and information. Literature reviews and finding relevant publications were part of this course and we will provide you with more relevant literature on this topic.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Taught by industry professionals, Bart Van Straten and Tim Horeman

Offers a structured approach to integrate circular processes in a hospital

Provides a free eBook to further students' knowledge of circular economy strategies

Covers global climate policies and regulations, such as the EU Climate Law and Green Deal

Involves real-world examples of circular economy strategies in hospitals

Provides accredited course from the Dutch Association for Hospital Instrumentation Technicians (VZI)

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Circular Strategies for Hospitals with these activities:

Read 'Creating a Circular Healthcare Economy'

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Provides a comprehensive overview of circular economy strategies in healthcare.

View Creating a Circular Healthcare Economy on Amazon

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Obtain the book from the provided link or library.
Read through the book, taking notes on key concepts and strategies.

Practice Urban Mining Techniques

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Helps students develop practical skills in identifying and recovering valuable materials from hospital waste.

Browse courses on Urban Mining

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Identify different types of materials that can be recovered through urban mining in a hospital.
Research and practice techniques for extracting these materials safely and efficiently.

Develop a Circular Waste Management Plan

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Allows students to apply circular economy principles to a practical problem within a hospital setting.

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Identify and analyze current waste streams generated by the hospital.
Research and propose circular economy strategies to reduce or eliminate these waste streams.
Develop a comprehensive plan outlining the implementation of these strategies.

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Career center

Learners who complete Circular Strategies for Hospitals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Hospital Administrator

A Hospital Administrator is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a hospital, including the budget, staff, and patient care. This course can help Hospital Administrators understand how to reduce waste streams, improve efficiency, and create a more sustainable hospital environment. The course's focus on circular strategies can also help Hospital Administrators identify opportunities to save money and improve the quality of care.

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Healthcare Consultant

A Healthcare Consultant advises hospitals and other healthcare organizations on how to improve their operations. This course can help Healthcare Consultants learn about the latest circular strategies and how to implement them in a hospital setting. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Healthcare Consultants identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of hospitals.

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Sustainability Manager

A Sustainability Manager is responsible for developing and implementing sustainability programs for organizations. This course can help Sustainability Managers learn about the circular economy and how to apply circular strategies to the healthcare sector. The course's focus on waste reduction and urban mining can also help Sustainability Managers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of hospitals.

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Environmental Health and Safety Manager

An Environmental Health and Safety Manager is responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with environmental and safety regulations. This course can help Environmental Health and Safety Managers learn about the circular economy and how to apply circular strategies to the healthcare sector. The course's focus on waste reduction and urban mining can also help Environmental Health and Safety Managers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of hospitals.

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Materials Scientist

A Materials Scientist researches and develops new materials for use in a variety of industries, including the healthcare industry. This course can help Materials Scientists learn about the circular economy and how to develop new materials that are more sustainable and can be recycled or reused. The course's focus on urban mining can also help Materials Scientists identify opportunities to use recycled materials in the development of new products.

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Product Designer

A Product Designer designs and develops new products for a variety of industries, including the healthcare industry. This course can help Product Designers learn about the circular economy and how to design products that are more sustainable and can be recycled or reused. The course's focus on urban mining can also help Product Designers identify opportunities to use recycled materials in the development of new products.

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Process Engineer

A Process Engineer designs and improves processes for a variety of industries, including the healthcare industry. This course can help Process Engineers learn about the circular economy and how to design processes that are more sustainable and reduce waste. The course's focus on urban mining can also help Process Engineers identify opportunities to use recycled materials in the development of new processes.

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Supply Chain Manager

A Supply Chain Manager is responsible for managing the flow of goods and services within an organization. This course can help Supply Chain Managers learn about the circular economy and how to implement circular strategies in their supply chains. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Supply Chain Managers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Waste Management Specialist

A Waste Management Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing waste management programs for organizations. This course can help Waste Management Specialists learn about the circular economy and how to apply circular strategies to waste management. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Waste Management Specialists identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Environmental Scientist

An Environmental Scientist studies the environment and develops solutions to environmental problems. This course can help Environmental Scientists learn about the circular economy and how to apply circular strategies to environmental problems. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Environmental Scientists identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes public policies. This course can help Policy Analysts learn about the circular economy and how to develop policies that promote circularity. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Policy Analysts identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Teacher

A Teacher educates students in a variety of subjects. This course can help Teachers learn about the circular economy and how to incorporate it into their teaching. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Teachers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their schools.

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Journalist

A Journalist researches and writes news stories. This course can help Journalists learn about the circular economy and how to report on it in a way that is engaging and informative. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Journalists identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Researcher

A Researcher conducts research in a variety of fields. This course can help Researchers learn about the circular economy and how to conduct research on it. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Researchers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their organizations.

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Engineer

An Engineer designs and builds things. This course can help Engineers learn about the circular economy and how to design and build things that are more sustainable. The course's focus on urban mining and waste reduction can also help Engineers identify opportunities to save money and improve the environmental performance of their products.

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